White Ferns opener Suzie Bates made an unbeaten 91 as they posted 167-2 and beat South Africa by TK runs in their Commonwealth Games opener.
At Edgbaston, Birmingham: White Ferns 167-2 (Suzie Bates 91no off 64, Sophie Devine 48 off 40; Nonkululeko Mlaba 1-33) beat South Africa 154-7 (Chloe Tryon 39 off 17, Sune Luus 32 off 18; Devine 3-37) by 13 runs
Suzie Bates played one of the best Twenty20 international innings of her lengthy career as the White Ferns made a winning start to the Commonwealth Games.
New Zealand needed a win over South Africa to give themselves the best possible chance of making the semifinals and contending for a medal next weekend.
On the back of Bates’ unbeaten 91 off 64 balls – supplemented by captain Sophie Devine’s 48 off 40 – they did just that at Edgbaston in Birmingham, getting home by 13 runs.
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New Zealand is sending 232 athletes to the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Chloe Tryon threatened to rescue South Africa from an early hole, but she was run out after blasting 39 off just 17 balls after a mix-up with her captain, Sune Luus.
The White Ferns finished with 167-2 from their 20 overs when Melie Kerr was run out for 20 off 16 off the final ball of their innings and were able to peg the Proteas back early in the field.
At the end of the six-over power play, South Africa were 29-2 and the asking rate was approaching 10 runs per over.
Kerr picked up the wicket of Mignon du Preez as the equation rose over 12 runs per over – or two runs a ball – and when Bates took a fine outfield catch to remove Laura Wolvaardt, the result looked settled.
Tryon had other ideas, hitting three fours and three sixes before she was left stranded when Luus turned down a leg bye and Hayley Jensen completed the run out off her own bowling.
Bates was dropped when she was on 26 off 27 balls and went on to add 65 off the 37 that followed, finishing with her third-highest T20 international score.
She shared in a partnership of 99 off 80 for the first wicket with Devine, then added 68 off 40 with Kerr for the second.
Tryon’s 39 was the Proteas’ highest score, with Luus making 32 off 18 after she departed before falling herself in the penultimate over with 23 off six still needed.
Devine took 3-37 off her four overs, while Jensen took 1-22 and Kerr 1-24.
The White Ferns’ next match is against Sri Lanka (first ball 5am Wednesday NZ time) and a win there could be all they need to make the semifinals.
Hosts England are the other team in group B and get their campaign underway against Sri Lanka later on Sunday morning [NZ time].
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